A woman who caught rat bite fever from kissing and cuddling her pet rodent has sparked concerns the disease may become more widespread as the animals are welcomed into homes.
An article in the Medical Journal of Australia published on Monday, reported by AAP describes how a 26-year-old Adelaide woman was admitted to hospital last year with an unrelenting headache.
She went on to develop respiratory distress and a rash on her limbs, palms and soles of her feet.
Doctors soon discovered she had two pet rats on which she lavished cuddles and kisses.
She was treated in the intensive care unit and spent 17 days in hospital, making a full recovery.